When you think of messy Hollywood splits, the one that usually tops the list involves a certain blonde reality star and a very famous country singer. Honestly, if you haven't been living under a rock for the last decade, you've definitely heard the names. But for those who need a refresher on the specifics of who was brandi glanville married to, the answer is actor Eddie Cibrian.
They weren't just a flash in the pan. They were together for nearly a decade.
The story is kinda legendary in the world of celeb gossip. It has everything: a beautiful model, a rising TV star, a Lifetime movie set, and a cheating scandal that basically birthed an entire era of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Before the wine tossing and the lawsuits, there was just a marriage that seemed, from the outside at least, to be holding steady in the chaos of Los Angeles.
The Ritz-Carlton Wedding and the Early Years
It all started in a club. Like many great (and not-so-great) L.A. romances, Brandi and Eddie met in the early '90s at a nightlife spot. She was a successful model traveling the world, and he was a soap opera actor making a name for himself on The Young and the Restless.
They dated for years before finally tying the knot in May 2001. It was a fancy affair at the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel. They were the "it" couple. He was handsome, landing roles on big shows like Third Watch and Sunset Beach, and she was the stunning wife by his side.
Soon after, they started a family.
📖 Related: How Old Is Breanna Nix? What the American Idol Star Is Doing Now
- Mason was born in 2003.
- Jake arrived in 2007.
By all accounts, they were building a life. They lived in a massive 10,000-square-foot house. They were "living the dream," or so it appeared. But Brandi later revealed in her memoir, Drinking and Tweeting, that things weren't always as rosy as the paparazzi photos suggested. She talked about living way above their means and the fact that, despite the big house, she didn't even have her name on a single bank account.
The Affair That Changed Everything
The year was 2009. Everything imploded.
Eddie was cast in a Lifetime movie called Northern Lights. His co-star was country superstar LeAnn Rimes. At the time, both were married to other people. Eddie to Brandi, obviously, and LeAnn to dancer Dean Sheremet.
The chemistry wasn't just on-screen.
In March 2009, Us Weekly dropped a bombshell. They published grainy footage of Eddie and LeAnn getting way too cozy at a restaurant. It was the "cheating scandal heard 'round the world." Brandi has been very vocal about how she found out. She describes passing out in her closet, crying, and feeling like her entire world had just been erased.
👉 See also: Whitney Houston Wedding Dress: Why This 1992 Look Still Matters
Eddie filed for divorce in August 2009, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized a year later, in September 2010.
Life After the Split: The "Sister Wives" Era
What’s wild is how things have evolved since then. Most people would expect these two to never speak again. And for a long time, that was the case. The tabloids were a war zone. Brandi called LeAnn a "stalker." LeAnn called herself a "bonus mom." It was petty. It was loud. It was very public.
But then, things shifted.
Maybe it was the kids growing up. Maybe it was just time. By 2018, the frost started to melt. Fast forward to 2026, and they are actually... friends? Sorta. Brandi has famously used the term "sister wives" to describe her relationship with LeAnn and Eddie. They spend holidays together. They celebrate birthdays as a unit.
Brandi recently shared that she goes to Eddie and LeAnn's house for Christmas because she refuses to let her sons deal with "two separate holidays." It "f---- kids up," she said. She’s choosing peace over the old drama, which is honestly a plot twist nobody saw coming back in 2010.
✨ Don't miss: Finding the Perfect Donny Osmond Birthday Card: What Fans Often Get Wrong
What You Can Learn From the Glanville-Cibrian Saga
If you're going through a messy breakup or a divorce that feels like the end of the world, there are actually some real takeaways from this Hollywood disaster:
- Financial Independence is Non-Negotiable: Brandi admitted she was "homeless and broke" after the split because she had no credit and no accounts in her name. Always keep your own financial identity.
- The "Modern Family" Pivot: You don't have to like your ex's new partner to co-parent effectively. Putting the kids' stability above your own resentment is a long-game move that pays off.
- Reinventing Yourself: Brandi used the heartbreak to fuel a career. She turned her "scorned wife" narrative into a best-selling book and a long-standing TV career.
The story of who was brandi glanville married to isn't just about a guy who cheated; it's about the messy, non-linear path of moving on. It took her over a decade to get to a place where she could sit at a dinner table with the woman who "stole" her husband. If she can do that, maybe there's hope for the rest of us.
If you want to stay on top of how these relationships continue to evolve, keep an eye on Brandi's podcast or her social media. She’s never been one to keep a secret, so if the "sister wife" peace treaty ever breaks, we’ll be the first to hear about it.
The best next step for anyone following this story is to check out Brandi’s first book for the raw, unedited version of the split, or look into recent co-parenting resources if you're trying to navigate your own "modern family" situation.